also has longer legs , which leads to it feeling like it ’ s bristling and angry and wanting to ‘ go ’ all the time . Around town the Speed Triple spends most of its time in 1st gear , occasionally making it up to 2nd , where the street was mainly 2nd and a little of third . This ultimately means it ’ s a more comfortable ride . Although both of the three-cylinder engines are smooth , the bigger 1160cc Speed Triple engine gives more vibrations than the Street . The 765cc engine is an absolute gem , with power all over the rev range , and everything is just so amazingly smooth . The quick-shifter is velvety both up and down regardless of the speed , and the power is usable both around town and on the motorway . I took both bikes over the Wainuiomata hill , a road i know well from my days riding it daily on the MT07 . This hill is far from smooth . Much of it is concrete , and the undulations , coupled with the sub-par suspension of the LAMS MT07 managed to chew through a set of Michelin Road 5 tyres in less than 10,000km . The Street Triple managed the hill beautifully , the suspension soaking up the undulations like nothing I ’ ve ever ridden before . Riding the same hill on the Speed Triple , was actually a bit of an anticlimax . I ’ m used to attacking the hill at the speed limit and feeling my pulse speed up as the adrenalin starts to kick in . On the Speed Triple , there was almost no sense of speed . I was able to do the speed limit without backing off , easily . This is a testament to how well set up the bike is . It ’ s a weapon , a very focused machine . As much as I hate to admit it , while the Speed Triple may be the better , faster , more focused bike , the Street Triple is the better bike for me . Don ’ t misunderstand me , the Speed Triple is powerful , but it ’ s like having a jar of cookies on the top shelf in the kitchen … you just can ’ t reach them . I would just never get to use the power . And if I attempted it , MrPlod would , typically , be waiting for me just around the corner . I ’ m glad to have had the opportunity to ride these bikes back-to-back , a bloody good reason to visit a dealer who offers test rides . The Street Triple is like a smooth , well-aged whisky . Comfortable and refined , but still potent and more than happy to put you in the gutter if you disrespect it . It ’ s clearly my frontrunner at this point . Stay tuned .
104 KIWI RIDER